Contrary to popular belief, USERRA (Remployment Rights Act) does not require employers to 'hold' a specific job for the service member upon return following reserve service. It DOES require the employer to re-employ the service member in a job 'equal to' the one vacated during employement, and it even allows an employer to 're-employ in a laid off status' if an equal position does not exist upon return. Many service members have returned home to find that they had no position waiting for them as they had presumed would be the case. I personally returned to find that my previous territory, which I had worked long and hard to establish into a profitable region, had been reassigned to a guy who jumped into it as soon as I left. Upon my return, I was reassigned to another new territory and had to start from the beginning there. I also lost that year that I was gone in service toward pension with my then employer - Dassault Falcon Jet. Otherwise, within the company, I was supported well by my fellow workers and colleagues.
I applaud Sears and all the other employers who hold the services of their employees in high regard when they are deployed and will do my best to use them and let them know that their sense of public conscience has some value in today's commercial world.
